Coins

Since ancient times, rulers and governments have produced coins to establish a standardised form of exchange for their citizens. With these items often embodying the history of their age, antique coins remains a highly collectable field.

Coins often appear in mixed auctions but there are also specialist auction houses operating in this field.


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Early Queen Anne before Acts of Union

12 February 2024

The 1705 silver crown is one of the key rarities in the Queen Anne (1702-14) series.

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Argentina starts to emerge in coins market

12 February 2024

Prior to its unification, what is now Argentina was comprised of over a dozen autonomous and semi-autonomous regions.

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Masterpiece of Greek numismatic art

12 February 2024

One of the great masterpieces of ancient Greek numismatic art, this silver tetradrachm was struck in c.460BC in commemoration of the refounding of the city of Naxos. Its citizens had been exiled to Leontinoi by the tyrant Hieron of Syracuse.

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Coins & medals: Stable currency but market is far from static

12 February 2024

Total sales across London coin and medals auctions were £61.6m in 2023, just a fraction down on 2022’s record aggregate

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Comprehensive East India Company collection

12 February 2024

A remarkable Canadian single-owner collection of coins of the East India Company was offered by Noonans on February 8-9, 2023.

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Persian and Greek tributes paid

12 February 2024

Mithradates IV was ruler of the Hellenistic kingdom of Pontus in northern Anatolia from 169-150BC. He ushered in a period of relative friendship with the Roman republic that would continue until his grandson Mithradates VI (the Great) became its most formidable and determined opponent. Mithradates IV’s coinage draws attention to his Persian and Greek origins.

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Octavian coin sets a house record

12 February 2024

Spink posted a house record for a classical coin when it sold this Julius Caesar and Octavian gold aureus on April 3 for £220,000 plus 20% buyer’s premium against an estimate of £60,000-100,000.

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Basel basilisk flies again at auction

12 February 2024

A Swiss gold coin that only appears at auction once every few years is the 1740 Basel triple ducat. To one face is a grand winged basilisk and to the other a view of the city from the east above eight coats of arms.

1663 Petition crown

Petition crown sets British silver coin record

05 February 2024

A new auction record for an English silver coin was set during the New York International Numismatic Convention (NYINC).

Australian New South Wales Fifteen Pence or Dump

Bag of coins donated to charity shop contained rare 19th century Australian specimen

02 February 2024

A bag of coins donated to Oxfam in Orpington, Kent, contained an Australian New South Wales coin dating to 1813 which is valued at up to £7000.

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Six-figure candlestick stands out as a shining example of Mamluk artistry

22 January 2024

Estimated at $5000-10,000, a 14th century candlestick made during the classical period of Mamluk artistic production hammered for $100,000 (£79,500) at Leland Little (20% buyer’s premium) in Hillsborough, North Carolina, on December 1.

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Coin offered at Spink reveals a new mighty Iron Age ruler

18 September 2023

The name of a new Iron Age ruler or king has been discovered on a coin dug up in a field in the Test Valley, Hampshire.

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Travel with Huffer and to ancient lands

18 September 2023

Spink will conduct the Official Coinex Auction on September 28.

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Token halfpennies carry messages about values

18 September 2023

In the 1790s a dire shortage of small copper change caused great difficulties in the small transactions of everyday life.

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Exceptional tetradrachm toasts divine wine

18 September 2023

A collection of Greek coins formed over 20 years ago by a European connoisseur will be sold by Morton & Eden in London on September 26-27.

Coin Yearbook features special Anglo-Saxon spotlight

18 September 2023

The latest edition of the Coin Yearbook is published this month.

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Auction houses hold sales to coincide with prestigious Coinex event

18 September 2023

The Coinex extravaganza brings out the big guns of the UK numismatics trade alongside continental European dealers.

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From civil war to George III via two single owner collections

18 September 2023

On October 3 Noonans will sell two single-owner collections.

Brutus Eid Mar-type gold aureus

Roma Numismatics director Richard Beale admits coin charges

04 September 2023

Richard Beale, director of the London auction house Roma Numismatics, has pleaded guilty to a series of charges in connection with unlawful sales of ancient coins.

Edward VIII halfcrown

News in brief including a rare Edward VIII halfcrown coming to auction

14 August 2023

A round-up of art and antiques news from the previous seven days, including an Edward VIII halfcrown that was never issued being offered at Noonans.

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